Can't stop listening to: Haim

When I first heard the song above I thought it was like a mix of TuneYards and Gloria Estefan and the Miami Soundmachine. I dug it. It's catchy but soft around the edges. You don't have to go too far out on a limb to like it. But the rest of the album is classic indie with more of an 80 soft rock-ness that really mixes well. I'm humming this second song a lot these days.

Can't stop listening to: Wild Nothing

I've been listening to these smooth beats the last few days. Wild Nothing has been making a buzz on the indie music scene and with their new album coming out later this month, you'll probably be hearing more of them. You can download their new song, Paradise, that came out yesterday - here. Enjoy!

Out and About: Pabst Pubcast

If you were listening to 88.9FM last Friday you might have heard them cut live to the Pabst for a special pubcast with Sharon Van Etten, Tennis, and Yellow Ostrich before the they took the stage that night. Pubcasts are sort of impromptu radio shows from the Pabst Theater pub with touring artists. Not all artists do pub casts, but normally, you can find out about these secret shows by entering a contest at radiomilwaukee.org or follow @PabstTheater to get updates and directions the day of. You might have to be a little flexible and run over the theater at a moment's notice, but these little-known shows are great to see in person! Tennis was great, btw.

Inside Neko Case's Home

I about flipped when I saw these home tour photos of Neko Case's Vermont home in the pages of Country Living. When it comes to artists I get insanely excited about, Neko tops the list. And I found these photos to be quite inspiring. See, I've been trying to pull off a mix of antique (my parents run an antique flea market) meets rock and roll (my husband is in the music business) with basic modern elements as a decor for our house. I found a working balance but nothing I'm wowed with. After seeing Neko's house, I finally get what I'm trying to do. Cue the lightbulb.

Can't stop listening to: Hospitality

Hospitality - "Friends Of Friends" from stereogum on Vimeo.

The new Hospitality album as been on nonstop loop at our house. And "Friends of Friends" is my husband's favorite new jam. The undeniably catchy single is also accompanied by an equally charming video. Even Maeby Funke shows up for the acting fun. This is one of the best videos I have seen in a long time. Watching the story line of this break up a la long-distance can only be summed up with "LA is my now". Ha! So check it. I think you'll like it.

How cool was this?!

Top Ten Songs of 2011

I'll be posting my Top Ten Albums of the year tonight at the Top Ten Party, but for now I'll leave you with my Top Ten Songs of the year. (I still need some more time to whittle down the album list before the big reveal - too much good music this year). Are you coming to the Top Ten Party??? There's going to be a lot of people and I can't wait to meet some new friends and fellow music nerds.

The Annual Top Ten Party is TONIGHT at Club Garibaldi from 8-11pm. Bring your lists, drink some Louie's Demise, and let's talk shop. Read the Journal Sentinel article with all the details HERE. And/Or visit the official website http://top10albumsoftheyear.blogspot.com/.

Can't stop Listening to: Kathleen Edwards

This song has been a regular on my "I-Pass Lane Soundtrack" when I drive to Chicago. Her voice is quite addictive.

Kathleen's voice further supports my theory that flowing red hair and killer pipes are genetically linked - Neko Case, Florence Welch, Tori Amos - someone needs to do a thesis on this.

Her new full-length album comes out next year, but her two singles produced by her boyfriend, Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon, are out now. They make some pretty lovely music together. Through that collaboration, both professional and personal, I feel like Kathleen's voice really blossomed on this album. Or maybe the music supports her so much better. Either way, it sounds great.

Her upcoming tour is kicking off here in Milwaukee at Turner Hall on January 24th. The pre-sale starts today at 12pm.

Milwaukee Faves: Palomino's Jukebox

There aren't many good jukeboxes hanging around. Those new-fangled digital ones have replaced most of the old flip page behemoths. But just over the Hoan, in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood, Palomino still rocks it the old fashioned way with an excellently curated jukebox for their hipster, rockabilly patrons.



Those 5 songs are a big decision. My strategy? - Feel out the mood, start soft, warm up the crowd, pace the jams for the middle and go out on your best solid note. And hit those buttons with caution, because nothing is more embarrassing than accidentally having a great set ruined by Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire". Not your best, Billy. Not your best.

Can't Stop Listening to: Representin' Memphis

Oh, hello again! We're in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the long holiday weekend. Today, we even took a side trip to Toledo. Boy, did I like Toledo. There's a museum about glass made entirely of glass! Crazy. Are you guys traveling for the weekend? Wherever you are, I hope you enjoy the nice long warm weekend.

Live Show: Arcade Fire + The National at UIC

After we did the Easter rounds yesterday we drove down to the UIC Pavilion in Chicago to see not one but two great bands, The National followed by Arcade Fire. The National was great, as always. The lead singer from the Arcade Fire, Win Butler, came out and sang backup for a song. The Arcade Fire came out with a bang. Then during the second song this (below) happened. Win practically stepped on my feet. Talk about an Easter miracle.

Can't stop listening to: Dismemberment Plan

I'm having a great weekend in DC (I hope Milwaukee is just as nice) and last night I heard someone playing the Dismemberment Plan at the Capitol Hill bar I was at. I know! D-Plan! I remember seeing DC-based Dismemberment Plan at the Globe on North Ave. and buying their album at Atomic Records. Such a great band. They've recently reunited and I haven't seen them yet, but I hear there's work going on to book them in Milwaukee. Fingers crossed!

Can't stop listening to: Acrylics

This song by the band Acrylics ain't too shabby. I'm trying to get into some of their other songs, but I'm a little distracted by the girl's Pat Benatar look and sound. Either way, throw in a random lapsteel, good lead vocals with an 80's vibe and I'm pretty much sold.

Top Ten Albums of 2010

Around this time every December I compile a list of my Top Ten favorite albums for the Top Ten Party, a party where everyone lists their top ten albums of the year. My husband started the event several years ago as a way to justify hours of nerdy music talk. So, every year, as its gotten bigger and bigger, we rent out a bar and hang up giant lists of everyone's top ten favorite albums of the year.

Here are my top ten......

1. The National

2. Janelle Monae:

3. The Arcade Fire- "The Suburbs"

4. The Black Keys- "Brothers"

5. Warpaint- "The Fool"

6. Best Coast- "Crazy For You"

7. Joanna Newsom- "Have One On Me"

8. Wavves- "King Of The Beach"

9. Taylor Swift- "Speak Now"

10. Land of Talk- "Cloak and Cipher"

Honorable mentions: Beach House- "Teen Dream" (it was my #1 last year), Florence and the Machine- ""(I missed out, it came out last year)


I took a few photos on my iPhone. As you may notice, I (apparently) only hang with people who wear glasses.

Can't stop listening to: Sarah Jaffe

I'm loving this laid back summery album from Sarah Jaffe called 'Suburban Nature'. NPR featured the above song for their Song of the Day. I'd say it's pretty nice stuff for an afternoon of backyard suntanning or lounging around the house.

Can't stop listening to: The National

The National - "Bloodbuzz Ohio" (official video) from The National on Vimeo.

The new album from the The National came out today. "Bloodbuzz" is the standout track on the High Violent album, but I also really like "lemonworld". I have to laugh at how awkward and anxious Matt looks in the video above because that's how he really is in real life: anxious and awkward. He's a incredibly nice guy, though. When we saw them play in Seattle a few years ago, he sang half of the show on the edge off stage with his back turned to the audience. His stage fright has gotten a lot better since. At their Pabst show last July, he came out into the audience walking on top of the theater rows and stood perched in the mdidle crowd. They will be coming again to Milwaukee this summer. Mark your calendars for August 4th.

P.S. Thanks to Muzzle of Bees for pointing out the Milwaukee Brewers shirt in this video (mark 1:40)

Live Show: The Flaming Lips

Photos: CJ Foeckler
The Flaming Lips were at the Pabst last night and put on an amazing show like always. There was confetti, balloons, fog, lasers, and bubbles--just another typical show for these guys. "Do You Realize" at the end of the night was magical (I saw girls crying). If they ever come to your city, I would definitely go.

Can't stop listening to: Joanna Newsom

Check out the song Good Intentions Paving Company HERE from Joanna Newsom's new album Have One On Me. This album seems like a work of growth. Her voice is more relaxed, but still unique. Her harp is able to relax a little, too, on this album as it shares the stage with a few more instruments for a more blended sound.

Joanna is coming to Milwaukee Friday, April 2nd at the Pabst Theater. Yay!

Interview with James from Bramble

[Hello CC&S readers, today we have something new for you. James, the singer and charango player from Bramble is going to answer a few questions and talk a little bit about the being a musician, street-performer, and a free spirit. Enjoy!]

CC&S: How would you describe Bramble's sound?
James: I would describe Bramble's sound as sort of gypsy-folk, mixed with R&B with a spice of boy band.

CC&S: What instruments do you guys use--I've never seen some of them before?
James: Chaz Prymek play guitar and banjo, Ian Accord plays accordion, Steve Schmit plays bucket percussion with other trinkets (including a cymbal supported by an empty wine bottle), and I play banjo and the charango (a 10-stringed Bolivian lute). However, we don't pretend to be tied to playing these instruments specifically. We'll switch around a lot and we are all multi-instrumentalists, with plans to use those talents in the future.

CC&S: Explain busking. What's it like? Why on the street rather than small venues?
James: Busking is a whole mess of emotion and effort. Sometimes, people can be crowded all around you with smiles on their faces and dancing and they cheer after a song is over, and encourage the hell out of you. Sometimes nobody cares. Nobody. Folks pass by without even looking over, and we are all there pouring our hearts into these songs. And you just have to deal with that, the reality that it's not always fun. And that people aren't there to be your audience, and to pay attention to what you have to say (unless of course they choose to).
We don't want to give the impression that we don't play small venues. We most certainly do, and will. But playing on the street can be so much more rewarding. Playing in a small, crowded bar can be draining, because even though you are scheduled entertainment, people still won't care or listen. It can be a discouraging scene, but obviously not always. Small all ages places are pretty rad, but on the street, you know that people are stopping to see you. They are out and about doing their own damn thing, make no mistake, and here they are, disregarding their errands or schedules and what have you, and listening to our silly butts make some happy noise. It's thrilling. We love to give a surprising show for people who are not in the least expecting it.

CC&S: How many famous people did you see while playing on the streets during Sundance?
James: We saw like, 8 famous people at Sundance. 4 of them became fans of ours, and hopefully will come see us in LA at the end of the month (including John Hawkes, woohoo!)

CC&S: How's the tour planning going?
James: Tour planning is much easier when you decide to do it like 3 months in advance or more. Everyone is nice and says yes. We have a show in Madison just about lined up with our friend Shane Shane.

CC&S: So we can order your album online, but pay what we want? What's up with that?
James: Our album, H.A.G.S. (standing for Have A Great Summer) is available on a Pay What You Can basis. This isn't an original idea or anything, but it is one that we feel great about using. We made all of our albums cases by hand, and we have a simple collective idea: We are playing music because we love it and we want other people to hear it, love it too, and spread it. Therefore we have no wish to deny someone access to our music simply because they may not have the cash at the time, or whatever the reason. You want it, you can have it. Set prices only create conflict, either in an individual's mind, or between seller and buyer. And we're into a gift economy, not capitalism. Plus, sometimes people are super generous and are into paying more than the usual amount for a cd just because they feel we are deserving of it. (we gotta love that).

[This video is from the True/False film festival in Missouri and features a snippet of Bramble. I have to say, this little film is so EXCELLENT. I just love the time-lapsed sunrise over the "Mr. Roger's neighborhood" view of the city, and then when the day starts, the people come, have a parade and watch movies all day. It makes me want to go to there. It looks like people are having so much fun!]

True/False 2010 Closing Night Video from Boxcar Films on Vimeo.

Can't stop listening to: Coeur de Pirate

As I was hemming away at the top ten list this past weekend, I discovered the Quebec artist, Coeur de Pirate, and cannot stop listening to the album. The piano is just beautiful and the songs evoke a warm happiness and wonderment. I believe this one will rank high on the best of 2009 list- despite me not understanding a word of french. She sounds like a mix of Yael Naim, Emiliana Torrini, and a reserved Regina Spektor.

Here's a sample (in the form of one cute video).........

Coeur de Pirate || Comme des enfants from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.